REIGNING premier Tasmanian harness racing trainer Grant Hodges had a relatively slow start to the season but in Launceston last Sunday night he made statement that he will be a serious contender for another training premiership in season 2012-13.
Hodges took six horses to the races and emerged with four winners and the stable snared the quinella in one race.
The winning quartet follows a treble at the previous meeting in Launceston two weeks ago.
Hodges won with Lombo Leonardo, Whosthatchick and Lonesome Kid who all won at their previous outings and Peace Corps that rattled home to make amends foe a luckless defeat at his previous start.
Friday Lunch finished second to Whosthatchick to give Hodges the quinella in that race while his only other runner Empty Envelope missed a place but he was resuming from a lengthy spell and ran out of condition over the concluding stages of his race.
Lombo Leonardo has been awesome this preparation and is unbeaten from five outings this time in.
Hodges drove Lombo Leonardo confidently, circumnavigating the field a lap from home and after facing the breeze, forged clear and went on to defeat I’m Shouting by 3.3 metres with Put Mback about two metres astern.
Hodges has taken his time with the four-year-old spacing his last five starts over three months.
Hodges four-win haul has taken him to the lead on the trainer’s premiership table with 12 wins to be four clear of archrival Barrie Rattray with Rohan Hillier on seven.
But Hodges also is leading the way in the race for the driver’s premiership with 11 winners to be two clear of Ricky Duggan, Gareth Rattray and in-form novice reinsman Troy Hillier.